Report: 5-Star Early Enrollee Julian Sayin to Enter Transfer Portal

Sayin is the second early enrollee and first quarterback to enter the transfer portal after Kalen DeBoer's hiring.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football's 2024 roster took another hit on Friday morning, ESPN's Pete Thamel reporting that 5-star early enrollee quarterback Julian Sayin plans to enter the transfer portal.

Sayin is the second early enrollee to announce his plans to enter the portal this week, joining defensive back Jameer Grimsley.

Sayin was considered by the majority of recruiting services to be the No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class. He enrolled at Alabama before the spring semester began, and participated in Rose Bowl practice with the Crimson Tide.

Sayin's departure comes just a day after Washington freshman quarterback Austin Mack announced his transfer into the Alabama program, reuniting with his former coach. Mack will have four years of eligibility remaining, just like Sayin. 

Alabama's quarterback room now loses a member, but it still has a ton of talent. Jalen Milroe, one of the team's permanent captains in 2023 who finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting, returns for his redshirt junior season. Also planning on returning is Ty Simpson, who lost the starting job to Milroe last year but has stated his plans to return to the program in 2024.

Rounding out the quarterback room alongside Milroe, Simpson and Mack is Dylan Lonergan, who redshirted as a freshman last season and will also have four years of eligibility remaining.

Alabama's 30-day transfer portal window following Nick Saban's retirement still has over two weeks remaining, so there's still the possibility that we see more portal entries over the coming days.

See also:

Coming and Going: Alabama 2024 Offseason Roster Tracker